The hospital says Vernon Yates with the not-for-profitWildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Inc. brought in the 17-year-old male jungle cat to see a specialist on Monday, after the tiger had not eaten on his own for nearly two weeks.Dr. Brian Luria performed an ultrasound and took X-rays before using a scope with a camera to determine the problem, which appears to be a giant hairball.

Yates says Ty sheds quite a bit this time of year, which may be why the hairball is bigger than usual.

The hairball was too large to be removed using the scope, so Ty was scheduled for surgery.

The hospital tells 10 News Wednesday afternoon that the surgery appears to be a success and Ty is resting comfortably. And that hairball?

It weighed in at four pounds and was approximately the size of a basketball.

Yates estimates Ty, who is pretty old as far as tigers go, lost about 100 pounds, and he has been force-feeding the animal.

"He's sort of like my biggest baby, my kid," says Yates. "This tiger means more to me than any cat that I have."